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Friday, 27 February 2015

I thought it would be helpful for you to have a quick-find list of what remains - simply click on any item that interests you and that will take you to a page with more details and the opportunity to buy if you want.

THE book of cross stitch! This is 200 pages plus of cross stitch and sampler heaven. It is a hardback in very good condition. it is also mighty heavy and the high overseas prices reflect the carriage costs, I'm afraid.

In this book you will coloured illustrations, charts and images of samplers on every page - it is choco-bloc.

Cahrts are culled from diverse sources, including the famous Sajou pattern books.

There is huge repertoire of decorative alphabets of varying sizes

as well as charts for figures, buildings, landscapes, small children and animals...

Floral garlands and bunches also have their own section

And I can't finish without showing you this lovely sampler composed of the pattern pages of a little paper leporello translated onto linen - a great project to try out.

The first four charts are darling quick and fun to stitch Christmas Samplers for gifts or for a special display amongst your festive ornaments.

Hard to believe these charts are nearly 30 years old now - but they are still in pristine condition - and just as delightful as the day they were bought.

Charts which include initials have a full alphabet set for you to make your own personalization.

Then there are 6 unopened charts for you to enjoy with friends. Although unopened, the packaging is a little tired now

I bought these 25 or so years ago for a friend - but when her birthday came, her husband had retired and she said she had no time to stitch anymore! I kept hold of them in case things changed but she never did pick up her needle again

The first 3 charts are by the indefatigable designer, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.

These little Phillip Island penguins have been injured by an oil spill. Although the jumpers are adorable, they aren’t a fashion statement but necessary to prevent penguins from licking and swallowing the oil. The sweaters also keep them warm as the oiled feathers stick together, allowing cold water to get to the penguins inner layers.

Some of the jumpers have been knit by one-hundred-and-nine-year-old Alfred “Alfie” Date, Australia's oldest man, who lives in a retirement home on the New South Wales Central Coast. He was asked to help because of his 80 years of knitting experience. It was a favour he could not refuse. A self-taught knitter, Alfie was inspired to learn the craft in 1932 when he wanted to make a jumper for his newborn nephew. Now decades later, Alfie’s nimble fingers are once again at work. He, along with hundreds of others, were responding to a plea for donated jumpers by the Phillip Island Penguin Foundation.
The Foundation currently has plenty of penguin jumpers and needs no more donations at the moment.